The “fault” lies with Ford for building and selling a defective, dangerous product. Hertz was the consumer - and there was no mention in the article if Hertz had received a recall notice.
My 2015 Expedition has been under a safety recall since August 2022 - with the potential for the front HVAC blower fan to catch fire while the vehicle is in operation.
The letter I received from Ford stated the repair part may be available during the first three months of 2023.
Who’s fault is it if my Ford catches fire - since Ford is unable or unwilling to fix it in a timely manner?
The only saving grace is that it has been parked at my local Ford dealer for 3 1/2 weeks - awaiting a steering gear that is on national backorder (with no estimate of when the part will be available).